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what anti spyware do you recommend?

HI....

i had a free trial Spysweeper installed, and its expired. To buy it agin is 20 odd $ . What anti spy ware do you recommend. do you buy it, do you suggest getting free download? How good is what you got?

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

Spybot Search and Destroy is the best out there in my opinion, and the only one i use and have ever needed. It's kept my system spyware FREE for over 3 years. I've not had to deal with any spyware for years. Just remember to use the Immunization function!

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

for example i heard a while back that Mac computer are better by default for anti viruses.
Well theres nothing i can do, cause i alreeady has a Dell computer that is Windows

So I then could do with people who also have Windows computers and what they have had success with. I already have McAfee anti virus and they are wanting a yearly revewal for half price by end of december

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

for example i heard a while back that Mac computer are better by default for anti viruses.
Well theres nothing i can do, cause i alreeady has a Dell computer that is Windows

So I then could do with people who also have Windows computers and what they have had success with. I already have McAfee anti virus and they are wanting a yearly revewal for half price by end of december

But as said my Spysweeper has expired.

So anyway. hope this is clearer my specifications

I have a Mac, but the two I have suggested are for PCs (computers with WINDOWS)not for Macs.

And the main reason why Macs don't require anti-spyware/anti-virus software is beacuse we have a relatively small market share of the home+business environments - therefore not targeted by virus writers .

So I can't understand why you needed to be more specific when all the other posts provided you with links to WINDOWS COMPATIBLE SOFTWARE.

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

Originally Posted by AndrewUK

I have a Mac, but the two I have suggested are for PCs (computers with WINDOWS)not for Macs.

And the main reason why Macs don't require anti-spyware/anti-virus software is beacuse we have a relatively small market share of the home+business environments - therefore not targeted by virus writers .

So I can't understand why you needed to be more specific when all the other posts provided you with links to WINDOWS COMPATIBLE SOFTWARE.

Quite simple. cause i knows jack shit about computers

it's like this Andrew. i DO know about other subjects i'm familiar with, but computers, no. So what may seem abc simple for you, aint necessarily so for me--even though it maybe as simple as can be

but what i try and do is be as CLEAR as possible what my question is, sos there's no confusion. cause often people who know about comps seem to forget that for those like us who aren't familar it is/can be seriously confusing---seriously. ESPECIALLY when i had to pay out £58 just before Christmas a short while ago cause my computer got the Trojan virus and i had to ask a Dell technician to remove it, etc. So it makes it even MORE worrying to want to know what's best, and to get friendly help that doesn't put me down

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

Spybot Search and Destroy is the best out there in my opinion, and the only one i use and have ever needed. It's kept my system spyware FREE for over 3 years. I've not had to deal with any spyware for years. Just remember to use the Immunization function!

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

i am CONFUSEED...sooo CONFUSED people .....someone at Dell advized me to install www.lavasoft. so i began and it was weird. right..i clicked 'download' and then i get 'easy steps:click install' so i did it, and then they are asking if i 'saved' it and all these weird questions. i mean, shit i'd just clicked downfukinload and install

this is what i mean. this shit can really do my head in aaahhhhhhhhhhhhaHHHH!!!

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

Originally Posted by ludolfo

i am CONFUSEED...sooo CONFUSED people .....someone at Dell advized me to install www.lavasoft. so i began and it was weird. right..i clicked 'download' and then i get 'easy steps:click install' so i did it, and then they are asking if i 'saved' it and all these weird questions. i mean, shit i'd just clicked downfukinload and install

this is what i mean. this shit can really do my head in aaahhhhhhhhhhhhaHHHH!!!

Hun, not to be rude here, but if you can't handle a software download and installation without getting that confused and flustered, perhaps you should just take your computer into a shop and tell them what you want (i can't beleive i said that) and let them do it for you.

We can give you all the advice and steps to follow in the world, but if you can't do these things on your own without getting so... discombobulated, then it's probably best you just spend a few bucks and let someone else do it.

Now if you think you can handle this, go to http://www.safer-networking.org, and choose the region in which you live. Go to the downloads section of the web page, scroll down and download Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 and save it to your desktop. Then go to your desktop and double click on the Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 install file you just saved. It will launch the install program, follow the steps and install the program.

Once it is installed, run Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 via the shortcut the install program will place on your desktop. Once the program is running, go to the update section and click on search for updates. Then right next to where you clicked on search for updates, click on server slection, and select BNfileForm (Global) from the drop down list. Then click on Install Updates. Follow the steps (if any) to install the updates. Close and restart the Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 program.

Once the program has reopened, click the immunize button. Once it opens the immunization page it will say XXXX pages blocked YYYY blocks available, please immunize. Then click on the Immunize button at the top of the page.

Next, click on the search and destroy button, and then click on Search for Problems. Let the search complete (this may take several minutes). Once it is completed selected Fix Problems (this will remove any spyware the program finds). Then you are done for now. Every month or so you will need to open Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 again and check for more updates, immunize, and check for problems/fix them again.

If you don't feel like you can handle doing this, then you won't be able to handle any other anti-spyware program either, because they are all going to have a similar process. So if you can't handle it, take your computer to a shop and tell them what you want done and pay them to do it.

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

Noelie -

Oh I think you're absolutely correct. I think those of us that are intimately familiar with computers and software know that more isn't always better. Especially in our case because we know EXACTLY what these programs are doing; and lets face it, since we know exactly what they're doing, and since we tend to be strictly anal about what runs on our computers, we want to have 100% control over how things operate on our machines.

We know that a lot of those so called "heavy hitter" anti-spyware programs basically try to run themselves. And we hate that! If it's on our computer it better ask us first before it does anything, including turn itself on, right?

Not only that, but we tend to have a lot more programs on our computers for whatever specialized things we're into. And we know that having umpteen thousand things running in the background can grind a PC to a halt and will ultimately ONLY lead to problems we're going to have to solve later, lol. And let’s face it; we can do a better job with our "lightweight" programs than any heavy hitter could on its own.

Now less advanced users (and that's not a jab at anyone, but lets be real, some people know more about computers than others) tend to want their computer to do it all by itself because they don't know how to fool with it. And that's ok for them I suppose, but we know having a criss-crossed network of automated programs jockeying for processing power and running back and forth when we don't know about it can cause problems. And it does, that's why less advanced users have tons more problems with their computers.

Take spyware for instance. This thread pops up all the time here, "what can I use to get rid of spyware". And I always say the same thing, and I mention that I’ve not had a piece of spyware on my PC for years. And I think people tend to shrug that off as cockiness or something. But it's completely true. Guys like us know what we're doing and talking about, and I literally have not had ANY spyware on my computer(s) for years, nor viruses for that matter.

Bah anyways, I guess we just try to help too much sometimes, and it ends up being too technical for some. Oh well I suppose.

P.S.
You wipe your HDD every few months? Wow you have some patience man. I do it every 1.5 years, but reinstalling is a pain in the ass for me, I have so many programs to go through, not to mention games, and data. I try never to go past 1.5 years though, but even by then my registry file tops 500Mb... .

P.P.S.
And I too apologize if my post seemed arrogant; it wasn't meant that way at all.

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

Thanks to all of you for making this an interesting, informative thread!

I second buzzj's sentiments - and special thanks to Noelie and Provenlogic for giving us the thoughts of professionals.

I am quite paranoid about intrusion, having had a rootkit early on, before most
dispensers of PC advice had heard of them.

But I've just got one background program (after dithering for a while, I chose Webroot Spysweeper over Windows Defender), but I've got about six others just sitting there waiting for me to get them to run a scan. I'm aware that none of them is 100% reliable, so if I'm suspicious I'll run 2 or 3 of them. It helps psychologically, at least!

I recently installed Paragon Exact Image, a disc clone app, and a reinstall isn't likely to be such a nightmare in future. So, perhaps I don't really need such a large standing army anymore.

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

it's like this Andrew. i DO know about other subjects i'm familiar with, but computers, no. So what may seem abc simple for you, aint necessarily so for me--even though it maybe as simple as can be

but what i try and do is be as CLEAR as possible what my question is, sos there's no confusion. cause often people who know about comps seem to forget that for those like us who aren't familar it is/can be seriously confusing---seriously. ESPECIALLY when i had to pay out £58 just before Christmas a short while ago cause my computer got the Trojan virus and i had to ask a Dell technician to remove it, etc. So it makes it even MORE worrying to want to know what's best, and to get friendly help that doesn't put me down

I know this won't help you now but the next computer you buy should be a Mac. The reason there aren't virii for the Mac has more to do with UNIX being a secure underpinning of an OS rather than peeps trying to write virii, worms and trojan horses for it. The Mac percentage of the market isn't small like it used to be. In july the market for laptops was 12% Mac and the percentage of laptops compared to the whole Mac line is over 50%.
When that *dogs breakfast* known as Vista comes out you just may see many more former windows users giving up their PC's and buying Mac.
Unlike Mac, installs are very straightforward. I've been using Mac since '87 and have never had a problem.
The new intel based Macs will also boot up in windows or you can get Parallels which will allow you to run windows in a window while running Mac system X

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

No seriously - I'm glad you did something and trial software ain't so bad - except that installing and uninstalling software can (will) make your system unstable over time.

))))))))well i didn't know that. But I recall you saying to Provenlogic how you have installed so much? I haven't installed that much really---i dont THINK and surely the trial willl include an easy follow on if i choose to pay before 15 days is out

This is why I recommend making an image (Ghost/Paragon etc.) - have an up to date image - download a heap of apps you wanna try out - try them - put the image back on and install the app(s) you were happy with.

))))that lot is CHINESE to me kiddo

I always install a system to have at least a C and a D drive (partition the drive if necessary) and I save all my downloads to the D drive (or whatever). I also redirect My Documents and my profile to the other drive so I always have an instant backup if the C drive fails in some way.

)))))same with that

Maybe a few of us should get together and collborate on a definitive RTFM?

After xmas though, when I'm sober again and back in college (well...back in college anyway).

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

Originally Posted by JohanLarson

Ludolfo:

Get a Mac. Or, if you're really good with puters, switch to Linux.

No spyware, no malware, no problems.

Good luck.

Oh Dear my bad. I must quiet myself, I have a few difficulties with linux myself when compiling drivers in control panel, I find two computers handy then one on the net used to search for info while I use that info on the other. I think the poster might do well to heed some of the excellent advice given.

I use spy sweeper, ad-aware and spybot. I surf with Firefox with popup blocker, I firewall on in my router. I have turned off everything in Norton and only bring it out of retirement to scan downloads that I may be suspicious of. The scanning progs I use just as house keeping every so often.

The key to staying "clean" is to be aware of what is out there, how it is caught, and how to recognise where it might be lurking. If you still feel you have to go there then be prepared, wear a condom such as AVG, make sure you have a backup in case you catch something bad.

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

Has anyone tried Windows Defender by Microsoft? I am wondering if this program conflicts with others. I have Spybot, AOL Spyware and Norton. Does anyone know if Windows Defender causes any problems with other anti-spyware software like the ones I mention above. Thanks.

Re: what anti spyware do you recommend?

ludolfo you need to do two things...or ok three maybe. the lavasoft thing that dell recommended is lavasoft's web site, it would have been helpful if Dell and walked you through were to get the file and how to download it and which version you were supposed to download. the program that I suspect they wanted you to use is called adaware personal edition. you can get a free version of that program (although there are also paid versions of it). Anyway here are the three things i recommend you do.

sorry about all the confusion and your other thread getting locked. I agree with you the replies you got kinda felt like you were getting dumped on. But sometimes i think those of us with a little more than average computer knowledge tend to state things too simply for folks to be able to follow. i know from my mom that i tend to leave out steps on how to do things. I don't see a tutorial for using the AVG software, but i'll look around for one.